22nd July 1816: Hinckley Magistrates appeal again to the Home Secretary for help

[Sent to the Home Office on 22nd July 1816]

To the Right Honble Viscount Sidmouth His Majesty’s Secretary of State for the Home – Department.

My Lord

We, the undersigned, Visitor, Guardians, Church-Wardens, and Overseers of the Poor, of the Parish of Hinckley, in the County of Leicester;—beg leave, again to address your Lordship, and through you, his Majesty's Government; to inform you, that the Evils, which we anticipated, in our Letter to your Lordship, some weeks since, and now unhappily realised; & that it is totally out of our power to meet the difficulties, by which we are surrounded—

With a View to the Employment of the Poor, a Subscription was lately raised by the Inhabitants, amounting to upwards of 3000£, which will be exhausted, in a few days, from the heavy demands that have been made upon it.

At a Meeting of the Parishioners, held the 17th of this Month—It appeared that, on the lowest calculation, out of a population of six thousand Souls, about one half must have parochial relief; which, at the most scanty pittance, will far exceed 200£ per Week.!

During last month, Levies have been granted, at the rate of three shillings in the pound, which, it is impossible, to collect—And when the “Subscription for “the Employment of the Poor” is expended, which must very soon happen, between seven and eight hundred persons will be thrown out of Work!!!

The Parish of Hinckley contains about twelve hundred families; almost one half of which, it is believed, must have relief; and nearly a moiety of the remainder are, on account of their poverty excused paying the Poor rates; and the other three hundred families, that now pay them, are continually decreasing, from the Stagnation of Trade, & the great Pressure of the Payments.

It must be evident to your Lordship, from this Statement, that we live in a Situation of Painful Anxiety, and Fearful Apprehension of the probable Consequences of such a great number of Persons being without work, without bread, or, the usual means of obtaining it!!!

In this Awful and Appalling Crisis, your Lordship’s Advice is earnestly solicited, and will be esteemed a great favour, by your Lordship’s very obt and humble Servants

[John] Blakeley – Visitor
James Payne}
Samuel Goode} Guardians
Joseph Bassford}
Wm Metham} Overseers
John Ward.}
Wm Ashby} Churchwardens

Hinckley July 1816

12th June 1816: Threatening letter to Needham Bray & Co from 'Edward Ludd', Hinckley, Leicestershire

To
Needham and Bray & Co

I learn you hare about to Bate your hands of their Prizes this week and by that you hare guilty of death—and you may both—repare for that change as you will not be suffred to live much longer if you purceed, sooner turn off.—

From me
Edward
Ludd

Hinckley June 12th.—

16th May 1816: Bureaucrats in Hinckley, Leicestershire, write to the Home Secretary about destitute & unemployed framework-knitters

My Lord,

Impelled solely by Sense of Duty, we beg leave to state to your lordship the alarming situation of the Inhabitants of the Town of Hinckley, from the unprecedented, depressed condition of the Trade & Manufactures – We believe that almost One Half the Frame-Work-Knitters & other Mechanics are, at this time, out of their usual Employ—; & that, very shortly, the other Half will be in the same dreadful Situation — The Manufacturers have already exhausted their Capital, & nearly their Credit, in the Stock of goods, they have now on hand; & for which they can find no market.—

During the last Month, we have employed, on account of the Parish, many [Nearly 200—]of the very poorest of the People; who, had we not resorted to this expedient, must have been taken into the Workhouse. And the Number applying every day for Work, or Support, from the Parish, is constantly increasing — But our Means of assisting them are wholly inadequate — The Landholders & the Occupiers of Houses cannot be able, much longer, to meet the heavy & unparalleled demands, which will be made upon them. But, my Lord, this is but a Small Part of the Evils which threaten us — For a great Proportion of those Families, who have hitherto contributed to our Parochial Payments; being thrown out of Employment, must, instead of aiding, become a burden upon the Parish—

We feel a Pleasure in informing your lordship, that the Conduct of the Lower Orders of the People of this Place, has been peaceable & exemplary — But it is an alarming & appalling Circumstance, that we cannot walk the Streets without Seeing Numbers of Vigorous & Active young Men, (many of whom have been lately discharge from their Country’s Service), who are totally destitute of Work, without the means of Support. The frightful Consequences of which we need not point out to your Lordship —

Having honestly stated to your lordship the present & probable future Situation of this Town, we leave it your superior wisdom, to furnish us with such advice, & direction, as the awful crisis may seem to you to demand.

We have the Honour to be My Lord, your Lordship’s most very Obedient, & Humble Servants.—

John Blakeley   Visitor—

James Payne
Samuel Goode   Guardians—

John Ward
Wm. Haddon   Churchwardens—

Joseph Bassford
Wm Metham   Overseers of the Poor—

Hinckley May – 16 - — 1816 —

To The Right Honble Viscount Sidmouth, His Majesty’s Secretary of the Home Department &c &c &c —

May 1816: Overseers of the Poor in Hinckley express concerns about unemployment amongst Framework-knitters to the government

[May 1816]

My Lord,

In consequence of the present indifferent and alarming state of the Stocking Manufactory there are many loose hands discharg’d by their employers which the parishes find it very difficult to employ.—As their appears no prospect of any immediate improvement in the trade, we think it is our duty as Magistrates to enquire of your Lordship whether there would be any disposition on the part of Government to advance some money to find employment for the poor ‘till a favorable change takes place. The Rates in the Town of Hinckley and the Neighbourhood are getting very high and will be collect’d with difficulty.—Should your Lordship be of opinion that any Assistance can be render’d in the way suggest’d or in any other manner, we shall be happy to cooperate with his Majesty's Government, and to do all in our power to alleviate those evils which seem rather to increase than diminish—

We are, your Lordship’s
Obedient humble Servants

G: Mittam
J. Blythe

From Hinckley

[To] The Right Honble
Lord Sidmouth–